To be successful in this course, you need to have had a good deal of exposure to introductory algebra. You will be required to take one test approximately every four weeks, and there are no makeups. Upon taking the final examination, the lower score of test1 or test3 will be replaced by the final exam score . Each test will contain anywhere from 10-40 questions, some of which will be multiple choice or short answer. You should be able to complete these tests in anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes.
Tests will be taken online using the MyStatLab software on your computer. These tests will be timed and capped at around 90 minutes. The second test will be PROCTORED! More information later in this document.
There will be an OPTIONAL final examination. You should plan on spending a minimum of one to two hours completing this comprehensive exam. More details will be provided later on in the semester.
Final grades are assigned according to the following scheme, with the final average rounded to the nearest integer (in %):
92 or higher = A, 90-91 = A-, 88-89 = B+, 82-87 = B, 80-81 = B-, 78-79 = C+, 72-77 = C, 70-71 = C-, 68-69 = D+, 62-67 = D, 60-61 = D-, 59 or less = F.
Grades will be weighted as follows:
There will be a total of 3 tests during this semester. You must take the tests on or before the due date! Test # 2 will be proctored by your instructor or via some other means.
As a favor to my students, I will allow each of you to have a total of 3 "late passes" to use during the semester, One late pass = One day late. If you wish, you may use multiple passes on a single test. However, once you use up all your late passes, no more taking tests after the due date. This is not negotiable! Please do not ask for an exception!
There will be an optional final exam offered to replace a test grade. This final must be taken during the final exam period at the end of the semester. The score on the final exam will replace the lower score for test 1 or test 3.
You will have online homework assignments that will be graded, and paper/pencil homework that will not.
The last day to withdraw with a grade of "W" is during the seventh week of the semester. Please see the GCC website for details.
Cheating is obtaining or intentionally giving unauthorized information to create an unfair advantage in an examination, assignment, or classroom situation. Plagiarism is the act of presenting and claimingwords, ideas, data, programming code or creations of others as one’s own. Plagiarism may be intentional – as in a false claim of authorship – or unintentional – as in a failure to document information sources using MLA (Modern Language Association), APA (American Psychological Association) Chicago or other style sheets or manuals adopted by instructors at the College. Presenting ideas in the exact or near exact wording as found in source material constitutes plagiarism, as does patching together paraphrased statements without in-text citation. The purchasing or sharing of papers or projects between students or the re-use of papers or projects submitted for more than one assignment or class also constitutes plagiarism.
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated: a grade of zero will be given on the assignment or exam under these circumstances. In certain extreme cases, including multiple offenses, the student will receive a grade of F for the semester. In any instance where a grade is reduced due to improper conduct by the student, it will NOT be replaced by the score on the final exam.
Your instructor is going to try something new this semester: a proctored test using Zoom. He will schedule two (2) two-hour sessions where you can sign up to take the test. (You only need to sign up for one session!) You will need a computer in a quiet room with all notes and books cleared away from your desk, and a mobile device with the Zoom app installed. You'll log into Zoom with your mobile device (phone, tablet, or second computer) and prop it in a location where your instructor can monitor you and your computer screen. A little creepy, but you can thank coronavirus for this one.
The tests will be scheduled for some time during week 8 ... probably Thursday Nov 12th early evening (7ish) and Sunday Nov 15th early afternoon (noon-ish...), but I'll canvas the group and try to determine times suitable to the largest number of individuals.
If you can't take the test during one of the two scheduled sessions, no problem! You may take the test using ProctorU at a cost of approximately $20. I can provide more information at a later date if anyone is interested.
Course topics will be broken down into 3 evenly divided modules, each covering approximately 1/3 of the semester, or about 4 weeks each. Module 1 covers sections 1.1-1.3, 2.1-2.5, and 3.1. Module 2 covers sections 3.2-3.4, 4.1-4.2, and 5.1-5.4. Module 3 covers 6.1-6.3, 7.1-7.4, and 9.1-9.2.
Embedded in each module, there will be four (4) online homework assignments with due dates spaced evenly throughout. Each module will culminate with a test. All due dates will be posted inside blackboard at the beginning of the semester.
The instructor reserves the right to make any reasonable and necessary modifications to the statements above. This document is subject to change.